In 2018, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified 24,100 people in Germany as right-wing extremists. More than one out of two right-wing extremists is described as “violence-oriented”. These figures demonstrate the high level of threat in the German constitutional democracy, which has already manifested itself in the form of various terrorist attacks against foreigners, religious communities and more recently politicians.

Right-wing extremism in Germany has undergone a profound transformation since the 1990s, making the formulation of recommendations for action and prevention more challenging. A complex and unstable network that blurs the dividing lines between right-wing populism, right-wing extremism and right-wing terrorism has recently emerged. In view of these new challenges, a process of rethinking has begun in Germany with regard to the classification, prevention and combating of right-wing terrorism by security authorities.

Nele Katharina Wissmann worked at the Cerfa from September 2009 to April 2016. Since September 2016, she is a Research associate.